VRNIX vs. VWELX
VRNIX (Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares) and VWELX (Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares) are both mutual funds - VRNIX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund managed by Vanguard, while VWELX is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VRNIX returned 15.43%/yr vs 10.12%/yr for VWELX. With a 0.95 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VRNIX charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.24%/yr for VWELX.
Performance
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRNIX achieves a 10.55% return, which is significantly higher than VWELX's 6.39% return. Over the past 10 years, VRNIX has outperformed VWELX with an annualized return of 15.43%, while VWELX has yielded a comparatively lower 10.12% annualized return.
VRNIX
- 1D
- -0.74%
- 1M
- 4.10%
- YTD
- 10.55%
- 6M
- 10.37%
- 1Y
- 27.08%
- 3Y*
- 21.99%
- 5Y*
- 13.41%
- 10Y*
- 15.43%
VWELX
- 1D
- -0.67%
- 1M
- 2.71%
- YTD
- 6.39%
- 6M
- 6.66%
- 1Y
- 19.88%
- 3Y*
- 15.35%
- 5Y*
- 8.69%
- 10Y*
- 10.12%
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRNIX Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 10.55% | 16.94% | 24.44% | 26.49% | -19.19% | 28.64% | 20.90% | 31.36% | -4.84% | 21.58% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 6.39% | 16.54% | 14.73% | 14.29% | -14.36% | 18.99% | 10.57% | 22.51% | -3.43% | 13.98% |
Correlation
The correlation between VRNIX and VWELX is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 23, 2010 | 0.95 |
The correlation between VRNIX and VWELX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VRNIX vs. VWELX — Risk / Return Rank
VRNIX
VWELX
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRNIX) and Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| VRNIX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.28 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.45 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.08 | 2.99 | +0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.21 | 13.88 | +0.33 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VRNIX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.27 | 2.41 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.85 | 0.88 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | 0.84 | +0.01 |
Drawdowns
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRNIX drawdown since its inception was -34.57%, roughly equal to the maximum VWELX drawdown of -36.12%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRNIX and VWELX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VRNIX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.57% | -36.12% | +1.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.85% | -6.78% | -2.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.40% | -11.98% | -7.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.14% | -20.88% | -4.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.57% | -25.33% | -9.24% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.74% | -0.67% | -0.07% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.90% | -3.92% | +0.02% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.91% | 1.46% | +0.45% |
Volatility
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares (VRNIX) has a higher volatility of 2.95% compared to Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares (VWELX) at 2.61%. This indicates that VRNIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VWELX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VRNIX | VWELX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.95% | 2.61% | +0.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.04% | 6.68% | +2.36% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.99% | 8.41% | +3.58% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.25% | 11.14% | +6.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.27% | 11.53% | +6.74% |
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VRNIX has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than VWELX's 0.24% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VRNIX vs. VWELX - Dividend Comparison
VRNIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.00%, less than VWELX's 10.83% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRNIX Vanguard Russell 1000 Index Fund Institutional Shares | 1.00% | 0.82% | 1.21% | 1.41% | 1.59% | 2.86% | 1.46% | 1.65% | 2.00% | 1.73% | 1.93% | 1.92% |
VWELX Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares | 10.83% | 11.46% | 10.76% | 6.01% | 8.19% | 8.64% | 7.77% | 4.67% | 9.49% | 5.82% | 4.44% | 7.03% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, VRNIX and VWELX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VRNIX has higher volatility (2.95%) compared to VWELX (2.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VRNIX dropped -34.57% vs VWELX's -36.12%.
VWELX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.41 vs 2.27), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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